P38A Oil

oakey · May 30, 2020

Possibly a silly question, but what does too much oil in gearbox or engine do?
How much is too much?
How accurate are dipsticks?

Thank you for helping but just a thought I had

kermit_rr · May 30, 2020

In the engine, crank seals can blow, oil can push past pistons etc, not something you want
Gearbox overfill can't be much better

oakey · May 30, 2020

Ok ta
How much is too much?
If I overfill by 1/4 inch on dipstick is that too much?
I havent by the way

kermit_rr · May 30, 2020

That sounds like quite a bit over to me, i wouldn't go more than a few mm over, personally

Henry_b · May 30, 2020

Drain some out into a CLEAN jug..

That way if you drain too much you can put the correct amount back in..

kermit_rr · May 30, 2020

Henry_b said:
Drain some out into a CLEAN jug..

That way if you drain too much you can put the correct amount back in..

Good in theory, but as soon as you put clean oil in any kind of container, muck manages to get in, not sure where from though

Henry_b · May 30, 2020

kermit_rr said:
Good in theory, but as soon as you put clean oil in any kind of container, muck manages to get in, not sure where from though

Usually as you fumble around...

kermit_rr · May 30, 2020

Henry_b said:
Usually as you fumble around...

Pervert

oakey · May 30, 2020

Ok so it does have to be pretty accurate then

Henry_b · May 30, 2020

oakey said:
Ok so it does have to be pretty accurate then

I've had mine a tad over the mark without issue but there is a min and max there for a reason

oakey · May 30, 2020

True
Are dipsticks that accurate?

Henry_b · May 30, 2020

oakey said:
True
Are dipsticks that accurate?

I'd say they're good enough

When my oil gets low i just buy a longer one

oakey · May 30, 2020

Sounds like a plan

And thank you

Marshall8hp · May 31, 2020

1/4" will be around 250ml, or about 4% of a full fill. It isn't going to make any difference.

Grrrrrr · May 31, 2020

Marshall8hp said:
1/4" will be around 250ml, or about 4% of a full fill. It isn't going to make any difference.

I'd go along with that, especially on an old engine that's a bit tired. I had a mate who chucked way too much oil in an old Astra and it just smoked for a few thousand miles until it burnt the excess off.

kermit_rr · May 31, 2020

Grrrrrr said:
I'd go along with that, especially on an old engine that's a bit tired. I had a mate who chucked way too much oil in an old Astra and it just smoked for a few thousand miles until it burnt the excess off.

That's all well and good, but you won't get away with that of you have catalytic converters, the oil will kill them

dubbleRR · May 31, 2020

1/4 of an inch might be 1/2 an inch when hot

.........RR.

Marshall8hp said:
1/4" will be around 250ml, or about 4% of a full fill. It isn't going to make any difference.

wammers · May 31, 2020

If you are changing oil and filter. Warm engine drain old oil. Change filter. Fill to max mark. Start and run engine until oil lamp goes out, switch off. Top up to max mark. Oil is checked with engine cold. If you dip with engine hot and the correct fill method has been used it will always show slightly more than max.That is normal it should not be over max mark cold.

oakey · May 31, 2020

Thank you for all your replies. Very useful
As I said before, I havent overfilled, was just a question thats been bothering me for ages

dubbleRR · May 31, 2020

Then again has anyone calculated how much of an oil over fill is needed for the self under sealing system that is fitted on some land rovers........

......RR

P38A Oil

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